Adjustable elastic stocking

ABSTRACT

AN ELASTIC STOCKING HAVING FOOT ENGAGING PORTION AND A LEG ENGAGING PORTION. THE FOOT ENGAGING PORTION IS CONSTRUCTED TO PERMIT INSERTION OF THE FOOT THERETHROUGH AND IS ATTACHED TO THE LEG ENGAGING PORTION. THE LEG ENGAGING PORTION COMPRISES A MEMBER HAVING TWO LONGITUDINAL EDGES ADAPTED TO OVERLAP WHEN THE MEMBER IS WRAPPED AROUND THE LEG OF THE USER. THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES ARE PROVIDED WITH ELONGATED COMPLEMENTAL FASTENING STRIPS, ONE STRIP BEING AFFIXED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF THE MEMBER, AND THE OTHER STRIP TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE MEMBER.

Sept. 20, 1971 H. L. MYERS ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC STOCKING Filed Feb. 28. 1969 I N VENTOR. may 4. MYERS United States Patent 3,605,122 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,605,122 ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC STOCKING Harvey L. Myers, 885 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre, N.Y. 11570 Filed Feb. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 803,286

Int. Cl. A41b 11/00 US. Cl. 2-239 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elastic stocking having a foot engaging portion and a leg engaging portion. The foot engaging portion is constructed to permit insertion of the foot therethrough and is attached to the leg engaging portion. The leg engaging portion comprises a member having two longitudinal edges adapted to overlap when the member is wrapped around the leg of the user. The longitudinal edges are provided with elongated complemental fastening strips, one strip being afiixed to the inner surface of the member, and the other strip to the outer surface of the member.

The present invention relates to an elastic stocking device and, more particularly, to an elastic stocking having an adjustable fastening means for releasably securing together cooperating portions of the stocking.

It is frequently necessary to provide an adjustable enclosure -to accommodate various items the shape and size of which may vary. This is particularly true in garments Where the size of the different users varies and also where the garment is of a supporting type where it is desired to adjust the garment to support the body of the user uniformly. This is particularly true in elastic garments such as elastic stockings where it is highly desirable to have the stocking apply pressure uniformly throughout its length to the leg of the user. It is frequently a problem to adjust elastic stockings to fit the leg of the user so that uniform pressure is applied to the leg throughout the length of the stocking. This is particularly true when it is necessary to have a portion of the leg of the user bandaged to cover a leg ulcer where conventional elastic stockings are too tight over the bandage or dressing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel elastic stocking having adjustable fastening means for securing together cooperating portions of the stockmg.

It is another object of this invention to provide such an adjustable fastening device which utilizes mating adjustable fastening material for adjustably securing together cooperating portions of the stocking.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an elastic stocking which is readily adjustable to conform to the shape and size of the leg of the user.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a supporting type elastic stocking with an adjustable fastening device which is adjustable in order to provide uniform support to the leg of the user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an elastic stocking with the adjustable fastening device for adjusting the stocking to provide uniform support to the leg of the user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an elastic stocking with the adjustable fastening device for adjusting the stocking to provide uniform support to the leg of the user which has a bandage or dressing thereon.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed specifications and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the elastic stocking of FIG. 1 before it is placed on the leg of the user.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an elastic stocking of this invention shown on the leg of the user with a portion of the adjustable fastening device disengaged for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic stocking taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the elastic stocking taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic stocking taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2.

It has now been found that the foregoing objects and other advantages can be readily attained in an elastic stocking having a foot engaging portion and a leg engaging portion, the leg engaging portion having a first member of adjustable fastening material and a second complementary member of adjustable fastening material adapted to be adjustably engaged with the first member of fastening material. The fastening material referred to is of the type disclosed in United States Patent 2,717,437 and sold under the trademark Velcro.

The present invention is directed to an elastic stocking having a foot engaging portion and a leg engaging portion, the foot engaging portion attached to the leg engaging portion, the foot engaging portion permitting insertion of the foot of the user therethrough, the leg engaging portion comprising a member having two longitudinal edges adapted to overlap when the member is wrapped around the leg of the user, the edges being provided with elongated comple'mental fastening strips, one of the elongated strips being aflixed to the inner surface of the member, and the other strip being aflixed to the outer surface of the member.

The invention is directed to such a stocking wherein the foot engaging portion is attached to the lower part of the leg engaging portion.

The invention is directed to such a stocking wherein the foot engaging portion is attached to the inner wall of the leg engaging portion.

The invention is directed to such a astocking wherein the member is formed from two sections. The invention is directed to such a stocking wherein the sections are approximately equal in size. The invention is directed to such a stocking wherein the sections are joined by a central seam.

The invention is directed to such a stocking wherein the foot engaging portion is affixed to the lower part of the leg engaging portion along the inner surface thereof.

The invention is directed to such a stocking wherein a complemental fastening strip extends along substantially all of each edge.

The adjustable fastening device of this invention is suitable in a highly advantageous manner for use on a supporting type garment having an enclosure portion of elastic material adapted to be positioned about a portion of the body of the user. The leg engaging portion is provided with a pair of complementary strips of adjustable fastening material. One of the complementary strips is attached to the outer surface of the leg engaging portion and the other to the inner surface thereof. Thus the user may adjust the garment after positioning it on his leg by pressing the complementary strips into mating relationship in the desired position to obtain the desired support from the garment.

Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 an elastic stocking generally designated by the numeral 10 having a leg portion 111 of elastic material adapted to enclose the lower portion of the leg of the user, for example, from about or below the knee to about or above the ankle. In addition, the stocking 10 also has a foot portion 12 extending from the leg portion 11 and surrounding the arch of the foot of the user. The elastic stocking 10 is split longitudinally down one side of the leg portion 11 thereby forming side edges 13 and 14 to provide for positioning of the leg portion 11 around the leg of the user.

The leg portion is shown in the drawings as formed by sewing together two sections 11:: and 11b of elastic material. It is also possible, of course, to form the leg portion from a single strip of material.

A pair of elongated complementary mating fastening strips I15 and 16 are attached to the leg portion 11 adjacent the side edges 13 and 14, respectively, and on opposite sides thereof. The mating fastening strips 15, 16 are similar to the type disclosed in the United States Patent No. 2,717,437 and sold under the trademark Velcro. Strip 15 is attached adjacent edge 14 but on the outer surface of section 11a, while strip 16 is attached adjacent edge 13 but on the inner surface of section 11b.

The foot portion 12 may be formed of elastic material similar to the leg portion 11. The foot portion may be formed in any suitable manner. For example, as shown in the drawings, two strips of material may be sewn together to form an upper seam 17 and a lower seam I18. Alternatively, the foot portion may be formed from a single strip of material which is sewn together along one seam, or the foot portion may be woven integrally without seams. The foot portion 12 may be attached to leg portion 11 by any convenient means. A convenient means, shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 is to sew the foot portion 12 to the lower part of the leg portion, along the inner wall thereof.

In putting on the elastic stocking of the present invention, the mating fastening strips are disengaged and the foot of the user inserted through the foot portion as shown in FIG. 2. The leg portion 11 is then wrapped around the leg so that the fastening strips 15 and 16 are superimposed. A slight pressure on the fastening strips then serves to engage the fastening strips and secure the stocking in position.

What is claimed is:

1. An elastic stocking having a foot engaging portion and a leg engaging portion, the foot engaging portion attached to the inner wall of the lower part of the leg engaging portion, the foot engaging portion permitting insertion of the foot of the user therethrough, the leg engaging portion comprising a member having two longitudinal edges adapted to overlap when the member is wrapped around the leg of the user, the edges being provided with a continuous elongated complemental fastening strip, one of the elongated strips being affixed to the inner surface of the member, and the other strip being afiixed to the outer surface of the member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,295 12/1900 Sadler 2239 1,287,870 12/1918 Burk 2240 1,775,714 9/1930 Bass 2239 2,513,639 7/1950 Goodman 2239 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,396,798 3/1965 France 2239 JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2242; 128-165 

